Ch. 7

Question 1

Define: Social Hierarchy

Answer 1

the ordering and ranking of individuals within society, also known as social stratification. Thos at the top of the hierarchy are generally afforded more power, wealth, prestige or privileges in a society. Hierarchies can be based on race, gender, class, caste, ethnicity, national affiliation or other factors

Question 2

Define: Class

Answer 2

a form of identity informed by perceptions of an individual’s economic worth or status. It is also a form of social hierarchy

Question 3

Define: Ascribed Status

Answer 3

an identity that is perceived as fixed and unchanging because a person is believed to be born with it. In Canadian society, race is often assumed to be ascribed at birth

Question 4

Define: Achieved Status

Answer 4

an identity that is believed to be in flux and that is dependant upon the actions and achievements of an individual

Question 5

Define: Mertiocracy

Answer 5

a social system in which individuals are rewarded and resources are distributed according to achievement, effort and ability

Question 6

Define: Caste System

Answer 6

a form of social stratification and identity where individuals are assigned at birth to the ranked and endogamous social and occupational groups of their parents

Question 7

Define: Race

Answer 7

a culturally constructed form of identity and social hierarchy, race refers to the presumed hereditary, physical characteristics of a group of people. These physical or phenotypic differences are often erroneously correlated with behavioural attributes

Question 8

Define: Racism

Answer 8

refers ti the discrimination and mistreatment of particular “racial” groups

Question 9

Define: White Privilege

Answer 9

refers to the fact that, in many societies, “white” people have access to greater power, authority and privileges than non-white people

Question 10

Define: Sex

Answer 10

hormonal, chromosomal or physical differences between males and females

Question 11

Define: Gender

Answer 11

culturally constructed ideals of behaviour, dress, occupations, roles and comportment for particular sexes

Question 12

Define: Third Gender

Answer 12

a gender role given to someone who does not fit within strictly masculine or feminine gender roles in a society that recognizes the possibility of at least 3 genders

Question 13

Define: Hegemonic Masculinity

Answer 13

refers to ideals and norms of masculinity in a society which are often privileged over others

Question 14

Define: New Racism

Answer 14

a form of “soft” racism that posits racial differences as cultural, rather than biological, but which still views such differences as immutable or insurmountable

Question 15

Define: Structural Violence

Answer 15

refers to the systematic ways in which social structures or social institutions harm or otherwise disadvantage local individuals. Structural violence is often invisible and lacking one specific person who can (or will) be held responsible